Dad,I never knew you fully well, because I saw only your outer self, not your inner self.I never knew that you loved me more than I could love myself because I did not see you giving me in person what I wanted, it was always the mom who did it.I never knew that you were concerned so much about me, because I did not see you spending more time to play with me not realizing the times that you were not with me were the times you toiled for me.I never knew that you worried about my life and my future, because you did not speak to me about that a lot to me, not realizing that you worried about how I was going to achieve my goal for my future and worked hard to achieve that for me.I never knew that you were so happy about me and my little achievements, because I did not see you sharing your happiness with me but you were proud in front of others about those little achievements.I never knew that you were committed to make me an educated person, because it was the mom who told me she wanted me be educated when I wanted to be so.I never knew that you cared a lot to get my petty wishes fulfilled, because it was mom who offered to give me anything I wanted, though they were very small.I never knew that you were interested in things that I was interested in, because I could not tell them to you but to mom and sure enough I was that she was interested in what I was interested in.I never knew that you carried me not only on your shoulders, to let me see things that even you did not see, but also in your heart’s depth that I can never fathom.I never knew the troubles and struggles that you went through for me except what mom told me about, because you never wanted to boast about anything you did for me.I never knew the amount of sacrifices you made for me, because they had never been made known to me and I never cared to know about them.I never knew you were supportive of me in anything I did, because I saw only your stern corrections behind which the unseen tears from your heart were, whenever you were seemingly harsh to me.I never knew that you were everything for me in my life, because you were behind me holding me strong and steady, not in front of me telling me things about your endeavors.I never knew the moments that I slept in your arms, because it was only after I slept I was shifted to your arms which were ever ready to carry me.I never knew and shall never know the kind of father that you were, because nobody could tell me that and I never realized that.Though mom was there for me all the time, you were behind her bearing us together in your arms. I never knew that.HAPPY FATHER’S DAY.

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Pastor's ColumnPosted here is the weekly column featured in the bulletin of Saint Mary, Saint Michael & Saint Kilian parishes.